After a disappointing end to their 2018 finals series, the Hawks go into 2019 an enigma.
The season-ending injury to reigning Brownlow medallist, Tom Mitchell has thrown a major spanner in the works as they look to return to the top-four.
However, their midfield depth will be tested as replacement, Chad Wingard will miss early games along with fellow new recruit, Tom Scully.
Lots will come down to their young brigade coming to the fore early in the season to push the Hawks up the table and into finals contention.
The three James' will be just some of the young Hawks who will be instrumental in driving the brown and gold forward, with James Cousins, James Worpel and James Sicily among Hawthorn's most promising players heading into the new year.
Ben Stratton's assumption of the captaincy role will only further his form following an impressive 2018, while Shaun Burgoyne and Isaac Smith should once again star across the ground with their trademark composure.
They have the talent, but where the Hawks will finish is anyone's guess.
OUR BEST 22 - ROUND 1
MVP
After his first full season since 2014, Jaeger O’Meara will look to take the mantle as Hawthorn’s number one midfielder in 2019.
With Tom Mitchell going down, a lot of this responsibility will fall upon his shoulders to lead the midfield brigade.
But it will be O'Meara's unique flair and ability to turn the game on its head which will help lead the Hawks to keep pace with sides in the logjam for finals footy.
Breakout
After two seasons toiling for regular football, it looks as if 2019 is looming to be the biggest in James Cousins’ young football career.
A massive JLT campaign has seen him show his fantastic contested ball ability as he looks to fill the Tom Mitchell-sized gap in the middle of the park.
With a Round 1 position almost a certainty, Cousins will be an important fixture in the Hawks' new-look midfield.
Under pressure
Ryan Schoenmakers has been at Hawthorn since 2009 and continues to find his way onto their list each and every season.
After only the nine games last year, it seems that the versatile tall is on borrowed time to fully lodge himself in the lineup but will have chances early to form a partnership up forward alongside Jarryd Roughead.
It’s now or never.
EARLY PREDICTIONS...
1. Tom Mitchell will play again in 2019
2. Hawthorn will miss the top-eight - just
3. Jarryd Roughead will go out with a bang
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